Risking your health for beauty is not a new concept, but recently, a new nail treatment has become more popular, bringing with it dangerous side effects.

According to an article published in Archives of Dermatology, gel manicures come with a risk of skin cancer, chapped skin, brittle nails and nerve damage due to the hazardous chemicals that are often found in the polish

“I choose not to get gel manicures because they’re not worth the risk of skin cancer,” sophomore Erica Johnson said.

Gel manicures require a unique polish to be applied to the nail and an ultraviolet (UV) light to harden the polish. This specific type of manicure has become more prevalent because it is long-lasting and stays chip free. Some students feel that they can get these manicures if they do not get them often or if they use preventative techniques during the manicure.

“When I got a gel manicure in Florida they applied a lotion with sunscreen in it before using the UV lighting,” junior Skye Lindberg said.

Lindberg only gets gel manicures for special occasions, but prefers them because she does not have to worry about them chipping.

The UV lights that are used when setting the polish have been connected to skin cancer on the hands and fingers. While the UV lights used are less intense than those of tanning beds, repeated exposure can eventually result in skin damage.

The ingredients in gel polishes can irritate the skin of many of their users. Some also contain toxic chemicals that have been reported as possible carcinogens.

“I would recommend [gel manicures] because they last long, but you shouldn’t do it all the time,” junior Katerina Magiafas said. “I’m not worried about the dangers because I don’t get them that often.”

Another risk is that when it is time to remove the polish, you have to wrap the nails in acetone because of the polish’s durability, which can lead to weakened nails and dry skin.

Gel manicure kits that do not require UV lighting are available for purchase and can be applied at home, but they should still be avoided because improper application can cause serious health effects and the chemicals found in the polish are still present. The best option is to find a long lasting nail polish as a substitute.